Iraq–Saudi Arabia football rivalry


Iraq and Saudi Arabia are two fierce rivals of the Arab world. Their matches are often considered to be one of the most heated rivalries in the world.
Although received lesser attention comparing to rivalry with Iran of both sides, it is one of the oldest rivalries in Asia. Emotions often run high when two teams meet each others.

Reason behind the rivalry

The main reasons for this rivalry are political differences, and historical grievances. During the Gulf War in the 1990s, Iraq invaded Kuwait, an ally of Saudi Arabia, and both fought a short but bloody war that would continue to have a major impact on their relations. Accusations from Iraq that Saudi Arabia is instigating terrorist groups, like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, further deepened enmity between the two nations.

Major tournament matches

1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification
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1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification
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1982 FIFA World Cup qualification
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1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
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1996 AFC Asian Cup
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2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
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2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
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2004 AFC Asian Cup
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2007 AFC Asian Cup
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2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification
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2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification
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2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
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2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Matches

#DateCompetitionHome teamScoreAway teamGoals Goals Venue
122 August 19751976 Olympic qualification
0–2
' Tehran
225 November 19751976 AFC Asian Cup qualification
1–1
 Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
32 December 19751976 AFC Asian Cup qualification'
2–1
 Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
429 March 19761976 Gulf Cup
1–7
' Doha
531 August 1976Friendly
0–0
 Riyadh
614 December 19781978 Asian Games
1–1
 Bangkok
78 April 19791979 Gulf Cup'
2–0
Hassan, Farhan Al Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
821 March 19811982 FIFA World Cup qualification'
1–0
Mohammad Riyadh
924 March 19821982 Gulf Cup
1–1
101 December 19821982 Asian Games
0–1
'H.Mohammed Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
1117 March 19841984 Gulf Cup'
4–0
Shaker, Saeed Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat
1210 July 19851985 Arab Nations Cup'
3–2
Abid, Rashid Nu'eimeh, Al-Jawad King Fahd Stadium, Taif
1314 August 19851985 Pan Arab Games'
1–0
 Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
1430 March 19861986 Gulf Cup
1–2
' Manama
151 October 19861986 Asian Games
1–1
Al-Shehrani H.Mohammed Seoul Olympic Stadium, Seoul
164 December 19871988 Olympic qualification
0–0
 Riyadh
171 January 19881988 Olympic qualification
1–1
 Muscat
1816 March 19881988 Gulf Cup'
2–0
Radhi, Gorgis King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
1915 July 19881988 Arab Nations Cup'
2–0
Radhi Amman
2024 October 19931994 FIFA World Cup qualification
1–1
Radhi Owairan Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
218 December 19961996 AFC Asian Cup'
1–0
Al-Mehallel Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
2231 August 20012002 FIFA World Cup qualification'
1–0
Al-Dosari Bahrain National Stadium, Manama
235 October 20012002 FIFA World Cup qualification
1–2
'Abu Al-Hail Shehan Amman International Stadium, Amman
2426 July 20042004 AFC Asian Cup
1–2
'Al-Montashari Akram, Mahmoud Sichuan Longquanyi Stadium, Chengdu
255 December 20052005 West Asian Games'
5–1
Abdul-Amir, E.Mohammed, Akram, Mahmoud Al-Qadi Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
268 December 20052005 West Asian Games'
2–0
Salah, Farhan
2715 March 2006Friendly
2–2
Temyat, Jaber Shakroun, Abdul-Amir Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
2824 January 20072007 Gulf Cup'
1–0
Qahtani Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
2929 July 20072007 AFC Asian Cup'
1–0
Mahmoud Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
3022 March 2009Friendly
0–0
 King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
3128 December 2010Friendly
0–1
'Mahmoud Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam
325 July 20122012 Arab Nations Cup
0–1
'Abdul-Zahra Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
336 January 20132013 Gulf Cup
0–2
'Shaker, Hawsawi Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town
3415 October 20132015 AFC Asian Cup qualification
0–2
'Hawsawi, Shamrani Amman International Stadium, Amman
3515 November 20132015 AFC Asian Cup qualification'
2–1
Jassim, Shamrani Mahmoud Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam
366 September 20162018 FIFA World Cup qualification
1–2
'Abdul-Raheem Al-Abed Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
3728 March 20172018 FIFA World Cup qualification'
1–0
Al-Shehri King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
3828 February 2018Friendly'
4–1
Al-Robeai, Mohsin, Ali Fallatah Basra Sports City, Basra
3915 October 2018Friendly
1–1
Al-Bishi Ali King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh

Statistics